Switch-operating device.



PATBNTED AUG. 22, 1905.

G. G. 36%0151. SWITCH OPERATING DEVIGE,

APPLIOATIDK TILED OUT. 18' 1904.

2 SHEBTBSHEET 1.

Fxttomegs.

No. 797,582. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

' G. G, JOHNSON.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1904.

. I 5 o 77 if r 7? v 6: Inventor \J Httomeg.

CYRUS O. JOHNSON, OF MOUNT VERNON, ILLTNOIS.

SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed October 18, 1904. Serial No. 228,970.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRUS (J. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States.residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Jefferson and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful SwitclrOperating Device, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway-switches, and especially to anoperating mechanism therefor, and has for its objects to produce acomparatively simple inexpensive device of this character whereby theswitch will be automatically thrown by an approaching vehicle, one inwhich the switch will be locked in its shifted position, and one whereinthe switch may, when acted upon by the flange of the vehicle-wheel, betemporarily shifted irrespective of the operating mechanism.

Vv'ith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the switchei'nbodying the invention, showing the parts in one position. Fig. 2 isa similar view showing another position of the parts. Fig. 3 is a detailView illustrating the operating mechanism in the position shown in Fig.1 and the switch moved independently thereof. Fig. 4 is a section takenon the line 4 4c of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are views illustrating theoperating member carried by the car in its active and inactivepositions, respectively. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line 7 7, Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main-line rails, 2 thebranch rails leading therefrom, and 3 a switch arranged between one ofthe main and branch rails and operable for shifting a car or othervehicle from the main track to the branch track, these parts being ofthe usual or any appropriate construction and material, inasmuch as theyconstitute no part of my invention. The switch 3, which is pivoted, asusual, at one end, has its free end engaged with a bridle-bar 4, adaptedfor longitudinal movement and terminating at its inner end in a verticalaxle or pintle 5, seated and designed for rotation in a bearingopeningprovided in a head-block 6, which in turn is adapted for reciprocationwithin a longitudinally-disposed slot or way 7, formed in a shell orcasing 8, pivoted, as at 9, centrally between the rails 1. The member orshell 8, which is preferably of the form shown, is

adapted to rock upon its pivot 9 and contains a pair of normallyexpanded springs 10, arranged, respectively, on opposite sides of theblock 6 for maintaining the latter in its normal position adjacent tothe longitudinal center of the way 7, attention being directed to thefact that under these conditions the pivotal axis of the bar 1 iseccentric to the pivot 9, whereby when the member 8 is rocked the bar 1will be actuated for shifting the switch. At this point it is to beobserved that owing to the head-block 6 having movement within the Way?the switch may move in either direction independently of the movement ofthe member 8 and that when the switch is so moved one or other of thesprings 10 will be compressed for automatically returning the switch toits former position.

For regulating the tension of the springs 10 I provide members or bolts11, tapped longitudinally to the end. walls of the casing 8 and bearingat their inner ends upon pressure members or plates 12, which in turnbear upon the outer ends of the spring, the plates being provided withears or projections 13, working in slots or ways 14, formed in thecasing. it is apparent under this arrangement that by varying thetension of the springs the force necessary for shifting the switchindependently of the rocking member may be readily regulated andcontrolled.

Centrally pivoted, as at 15, between the rails 1 and suitably remotefrom the member 8 is a second rotary or oscillatory operating member 16,preferably of semicircular form, as shown, and having a pair ofoppositely-extending arms 17, designed to project, respectively, intolongitudinally-extending grooves or recesses 18, arranged adjacent tothe rails 1, the armshaving slot-and-bolt connection, as shown, with themember 16, whereby as their active ends become worn they may be advancedlongitudinally for proper projection into the recesses. The member 16,which is adapted to be rocked on its pivot through the engagement ofactuating members or levers 20, carried by the car or vehicle 21, withthe ends of the arms 17, is operatively connected with the member 8through the medium of rods or other rigid elements 21, the ends of whichare pivotally connected, respectively, with the adjacent members,whereby the latter will have a simultaneous and uniform movement, whileupon the outer marginal edge of the semicircular portion of the member16 there is formed notches or recesses 22,

adapted to be engaged by the ends of a bowed spring 23 for yieldablylocking the member against movement. The spring is inserted through afixed bearing member or strap 2%, into which is tapped a pressure-screw25, 0perable for regulating the tension of the spring to correspondinglyvary the firmness of its engagement with the member.

The actuating members 20 are preferably in the form of bars pivoted, asat 25, to hangers depending from the car-platform and operativelyengaged with vertical reciprocatory operating-rods, which when depressedwill swing the levers 20 downward into the recesses 18,whereby engagingportions or hooks 26, provided on the levers, may engage the ends of thearms 17 for operating the member 16, the levers 20 being normallymaintained in inactive position by means of springs 27, which encirclethe lever-operating rods.

In practice as the car approaches the switch one or other of the members20 is moved to position-for engagement with the corresponding arm 17,thereby rocking the member 16 and through the medium of theconnectingrods 21 causing a simultaneous and similar movement of themember 8, thereby shifting the switch, as above explained. With theswitch in the position shown in Fig. 1 if a car is backed upon the maintracks the wheelflange will act upon the switch for temporarily shiftingthe latter to the position shown in Fig. 3 and in the manner heretoforeexplained, or if the switch be in the position shown in Fig. 2 a carbacking from the branch rails 2 onto the main rails will in like mannertemporarily shift the switch.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a comparatively simpleinexpensive mechanism admirably adapted for the attainment of the endsin view, it being understood that minor changes in the details hereinset the switch-point, a rocking member operatively connected with thecasing and provided with depressions, and a yielding locking deviceadapted to engage the depressions.

3. The combination with a switch-point, of a pivoted casing,.aspring-pressed head carried thereby and disposed eccentric to itspivotal point, a connetion between the head and the switch-point, arocking member operatively connected with the casing and provided withdepressions, and an adjustable Y yielding locking device adapted toengage the depressions.

4C. In a device of the class described, a movable switch, a movableoperating member therefor, a bridle-bar connecting the switch andmember, and a yieldable connection between the bar and one of the parts,said con:

nection comprising a casing, a head-block slidably disposed therein andengaged with the bar, and a pair of springs arranged on opposite sidesof the head-block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CYRUS (J. JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses:

A. D. WEBB, Tnos. NEAL.

